Manila upbeat on HSWs’ protection

Philippines Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Dimapiliz-Baldoz expressed optimism yesterday that household service workers (HSWs) who will work in Saudi Arabia for the first time will be amply protected.
Saudi Labor Minister Adel Fakeih confirmed yesterday that work visas for Filipino housemaids will be issued effective in October. A specific date was not announced.
In his statement available on Facebook, Fakeih said: “I would like to review with you the latest developments on the bilateral talks between the two sides — Saudi Arabia and (the Philippines) — regarding the recruitment issue and would like to inform you that an agreement has been reached with the Philippines.”
Meanwhile, Philippines Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapiliz-Baldoz expressed optimism yesterday that household service workers (HSWs) who will work in Saudi Arabia for the first time will be amply protected.
In a statement, Baldoz said the Philippines and Saudi Arabia had agreed to a new Standard Employment Contract (SEC) that contains stronger guarantees for the welfare and protection for HSWs who include housemaids, cooks and drivers.
The SEC also provides for the resumption of the verification and authentication of employment contracts for first-time HSWs starting October.
“This will pave the way for the resumption of the deployment of HSWs to the Kingdom,” Baldoz said, adding that with the new SEC, “we are very confident all Filipino overseas workers will get the protection they need and deserve should they find it still desirable to work in Saudi Arabia as HSWs.”
Baldoz issued the statement after the Saudi Embassy in Manila announced the agreement for the resumption of HSW contract verification and authentication, which had been suspended since March 2011 when the Kingdom disallowed it, compelling the Philippines to stop the processing of HSWs.
Shortly after the suspension, the Philippines and the Kingdom convened the KSA-Philippines Joint Technical Committee. Negotiations in the committee led to the current agreement.